Broom handle buffer



NOV. 28, L KAUFMANN BROOM HANDLE BUFFER Filed June 7, 1952 Patented Nov. 28, 1933 ur .{OFFEE BROOM HANDLE BUFFER v Henry L. Kaufmann, Newton, Mass. Application June 7, 1932. Serial No. 615,779

3 Claims.

7 This invention relates to buffers adapted for application to the handles of brooms or like utensils in order to deaden the sound and shock of impact in case the broom falls to the floor or against a wall or other hard surface. The principal purpose of the invention is to provide a durable and eflicient buffer of simple and economical construction, which may be readily applied to a broom handle and which grips the handle in such a manner as to prevent accidental displacement in either axial direction.

A buffer or silencer of the type herein disclosed is especially beneficial in hospitals or institutions in which the noise andclatter of falling objects is particularly objectionable, but it will be apparent that my cushioning device has general utility not only as a sound-deadening buffer but also as a safeguardagainst damage to the falling article or the surface against which it strikes. It will also be understood that the buffer may be used upon a variety of household utensils or tools having handles shaped to permit application of the buffer herein described.

A recommended embodiment of my application is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an ordinary broom having a handle equipped with the improved buffer;

' larger than the handle);

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the buffer; and

Fig. 3 is a radial section of the buffer as applied tothe broom handle.

In the particular embodimentchosen for the purpose of illustration, the buffer or silencercomprises a central ring or disc 4 formedof several plies 5 of rubber coated fabric vulcanized together to produce a relativedense and thick cushion; anda pair of washer-like discs 6 of relatively soft and flexiblerubber applied to the opposite sides of the cushioning member 4' andsecurely cemented or vulcanized thereto in order to' provide a unitary, composite article. The discs 6 may be considerably smaller than the central layer 4, and the diameter of the central openings 7 of said discs is measurably less than that of the hole 8 through the cushioning member l to provide a pair of resilient, inwardly'projecting, annular lips or flanges 9 which overhang the ring opening and which may bend relative to the body of the bulfer.

When the buffer is applied to the broom handle 10 and slid along thehandle. to its desired position, the flanges 9 of the rubber facing discs are readily flexed in the same direction (the opening 8 in the central layer being appreciably and when the buifer has been finally located both flanges may be flexed outwardly as shown in Fig. 3, so that the flanges exert a wedging action in opposite directions and hence lock the buffer inplace against accidental displacement.

- With such an arrangement, the thick and relatively stiff central layer or cushioning ring 4 does not bind on the handle during manual movement of the bufier, and the size of its axial opening 8 may be sufficiently large to accommodate handles of varying diameters. Similarly, the, openings 7 of theretaining discs 6 may be small enough to embrace handles of difierent sizes, for the resilient annular flanges will expand circumferentially to receive a handle which is considerably thicker than the normal diameter of said openbroom handles generally, without the necessity of ensuring uniformity or exactness in the size of the central openings 7 or 8; yet the article will fit tightly upon the handle and may be removed or relocated Whenever desired. It is also evident that the advantageous features of the invention reside in the structural arrangement of the relatively stiff but cushion-like central ring 4 and the resilient and flexible retaining discs 6, irrespective of the particular materials from which these members may-be fashioned. It will be understood, for example, that a solid ring of molded rubber or rubber composition may be substituted for the laminated form shown in the drawing; and that my invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

' 1. A buffer for brooms and the like utensils having relatively long handles, comprising a cushioning member having an opening for receiving a broom handle or the like, and-a retaining disc of relatively thin and flexible resilient material applied to the side of said member, said disc having an opening smaller than the opening of said member thereby to provide an annular overhanging flange for yieldingly gripping said handle for holding said cushioning member in fixed circumposed relation thereto.

2. A buifer, for brooms and the like utensils. having relatively long handles, comprising a cushioning ring of substantial size and thickness, and a pair of retaining discs secured to opposite sides of the ring, the respective discs having openings smaller than the ring opening thereby to provide a pair of inwardly projecting, annular flanges for broom or the like utensil, and a pair of relatively thin and soft rubber washers having openings therethrough, said washers being secured flat- Wise upon opposite sides of the ring, the openings of the washers being substantially concentric with and smaller than the ring opening thereby to provide a pair of resilient annular flanges overhanging said ring opening and adapted yieldingly to grip the handle of a broom or the like utensil to which the buffer is applied and firmly hold said central ring member in fixed concentric relation thereto.

HENRY L. KAUFMANN. 

